Two Pilots & an LSW: Not in LaPorte

Sunday, August 07, 2022

Not in LaPorte

When we got up this morning, it was sunny, and by the time we got out there by 7:30 am, it was IFR. We had a really nice pancake breakfast there, with blueberry and regular pancakes and good sausages that you like, and Boy Scouts who were all over it on serving and making sure people had seconds or thirds of anything they wanted. They had it together there, that's for sure.

We were being paid to be in LaPorte, and today was their busy day for rides. But the weather wouldn't give us a break. JP had to be back and I had to be back because we both had jobs early tomorrow morning, and there was a wad of weather moving in. So we made the tough decision to abandon the place and come home in the BT-13 together. It was still 600' overcast when we took off, but good visibility, so I stayed low (obviously) until about 20 miles out when it cleared up enough to get up on top of the clouds. Class G airspace, man. One mile and clear of clouds. Except I want more like 10 miles if I'm that low. You can see the towers sooner, ya know?

When we got back to Kokomo, JP's ride back to Terre Haute wasn't there yet, so he and I went up in the T-6 to do his back seat checkout for the CAF. Knocked that off the list of things to do and submitted the paperwork, put the T-6 away, got the Aerostar oiled up and prepped for the trip tomorrow, and then when the Browns arrived, Ray and JP went home in the BT and Jordan and his son Nicholas went home in their Bonanza, while I drove home in my Jeep, stopping at Cone Palace on the way to pick up a shake for Ann and me both.

Steve and AE drove back up to LaPorte to pick up the trailer, Spencer and Cameron, and bring all that home. They're not back yet, but they're probably not far away. They stopped for dinner at a good place and I'm probably just going to make myself some eggs, so bonus to them, but the bonus to me is that I've been home for a few hours before having to leave again in the morning for West Virginia.

Tuesday I have to find a way to get back up there and pick up BOB. And probably fly with Captain Alan some more. Even though he wears me out.

The Air Power History Tour people have asked if I could do some at the end of August. I'm busy for 3 of the days, two days doing PT-26 checkouts and one day on a MBros flight, but I said I could maybe do two or three days and move the plane from Michigan to Ohio, if I can get a ride. The day after I get back from that I have a trip to Maine with Kevin's company in the Cheyenne, if they get my currency done before then.

So...I'll quit, but still busy, in other words!

When I said I was leaving again in the morning, Kaylee said "Will you stop it! I miss you!" It's good to be missed--she'll be off at college in less than a month, and then I won't hear from her much, so fair is fair. ;)